Improvement in apparatus for elevating cannon



G. M. RANSOM.

Mounting Ordnanca.

Patnted Nov. 15, 1859.

Miami's;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. RANSOM, OF THE Uh ITED STATES NAVY.

IMPROVEMENT iN APPARATUS Foo ELEVATING CANNON.

Specification forming part of Letters Potent No. 26,124. dated Noveinher id, 1859.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE RANSOM, lieutenant in the United States Navy, have invented an Improved Apparatus for Elevating Guns or Ordnance; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 denotes a side view of my invention or cannon-elevator as applied to the eascabel of a gun. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, excepting the bearings of the nuttrunnions, to be hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a top'view of the bearing-block; Fig. 4, a top view of the nut and trunnions; Fig. 5, a sectional view of the major screw and nut; Fig. 6, a side view of the niinor screw. Fig. 7 is a top view of the major screw.

The object of the said cannon-elevator is to determine the angle of elevation or depression of a gun preparatory to its being discharged.

It is not new to apply to the cascabel of a gun a screw to screw into the said cascabel and extend downward therefrom upon the after transom of the guncarriege. Inthis case it has been customary to use a single screwl.

My invention or improvement is particularly applicable to what maybe termed a double elevating screw, or one composed of a tubular major screw, 0, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) and its nut c, employed in connection with eminor screw, 1, adapted to the major screw, so as to work longitudinally into a female screw, It, formed within the bore of the major screw c, as shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, c repre in or attached to a composition plate or saddle, m, arran ed directly underneath the eascabel, and afldxcd to it by bolts 0 o, as shown in the said figures.

In further carrying out my inventiomd hinge or joint the-minor screw f to suchsaddie-piece m, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at 3' and Z. I also apply to the not ctwo trnnnions or journals, 9' 9, arranged as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, and I support the said trunnions by means of bearings 11 plied to a box or b ook, b, constructed as own in Fig.1 and 3. The common axis of the journals 9 gshould be arranged at right angles to the axis of the gun, in order that the elevator may be moved either backward or forward, as may be necessary during vertical movements of the eascabel.

Four arms or levers, i i 12 i, are affixedto the upper end of the screw 0, and are arranged at right angles to each other, as shown in the drawings. By laying hold of these handles or arms and rotating the major screw within its nut e such screw will not only be moved longitudinally in the nut, but at the same time will revolve on the minor screw f and impart to it a longitudinal movement The threads of the two screws c and f should be so arranged upon them respectively that a rotary motion of the lowermost screw in one direction shall cause thesaid screw not only to rise on its nut, but to impart to the screw f s compound motion, or an increased velocity of elevati on. Consequently, one rotation ofthe screw c will elevate or depress the eascabel double the distance, or a greater distance, than the screw c is moved vertically in the some time.

In order to arrest the upward motion of the screw 0, or prevent it from being raised too far, a springstop, n, may be attached to the nut e, and have a projection, 1, extend through the nut. Furthermore, a recess should be made within the screw, as shown at r in Fig. 5. On the screw being raised to its highest elevation, the projection p will be sprung into the recess r and arrest any further upward movement of the screw.

There are important advantages in my mode of connecting the s'crewelevetor with the eascabel and the transom of the gun-carriage, for by means of such we avoid the lateral friction and drag on the screw, which takes place when the single screw is employed. The gun while being fired or discharged is held firmly, and cannot change positions relatively .to the carriage. The movements of the gun can be effected, generellys eaking, with more ease, and, besides these, t e screw does not extend-upward through the oasoabel, so as to be in the way of the gunner or artillerist while sighting the piece. Furthermore, the saddle or, independent of the cascabel, enables the elevator and its carriage to be peed with another" gun in case of bursting or accident to a un. g I do not claim the invention of P0111318 and two female screws arranged together, as specified; but

7 What do claim is with the elevating-screw and easeabel of the 1; The applicationef trunnions and beargun. ings (or equivalents) to the nut, in combina- GEO M RANSOM I tion with jointing or hi'nging the upper end of the upper screw to the cascabel, or to a Vitnesses:

saddle attached to or supporting the caseabel. R. H. EDDY,

2. The combination of, the easeabel-saddle J. P. IIALE,J1. 

